Safety Analysis of Commonly Used Exterior Wall Insulation Materials:
Currently, in China, the most commonly used organic thermal insulation materials are polystyrene and polyurethane rigid foam. These materials are favored for their lightweight properties and excellent thermal insulation performance. However, they come with significant fire safety risks that cannot be ignored.
1. Polystyrene Board
Polystyrene foam is mainly divided into Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) and Extruded Polystyrene (XPS). Among them, EPS is the most widely used due to its cost-effectiveness. Despite being treated with flame retardants, these materials are still classified as B2 flammable products. This means they can melt, drip, and spread fire when exposed to high temperatures or open flames, posing serious fire hazards. The dangers include:
(1) When heated, polystyrene boards can melt and drip, creating a melting zone along the wall base. If this area catches fire, the flames can spread quickly, intensifying the fire;
(2) In case of a fire, the combustion of organic insulation materials releases large amounts of toxic gases and dense smoke, which are among the leading causes of casualties during fires. In fact, nearly 80% of fire-related deaths in China have been attributed to toxic fumes from burning building materials;
(3) Heat from the polystyrene board can cause deformation and shrinkage, leading to the detachment of tiles. This not only poses a risk to people but also complicates rescue operations, making internal searches difficult;
(4) If the surface of the insulation material cracks or falls off, it can ignite quickly, causing the fire to spread rapidly across a wide area;
(5) Once the exterior wall insulation catches fire, standard indoor fire-fighting systems may not be able to reach the affected areas, especially in high-rise buildings where external fires are particularly challenging to control.
2. Polyurethane Rigid Foam Material (PU)
Polyurethane is recognized globally as one of the best thermal insulation materials, with a thermal conductivity ranging from 0.018 to 0.023 W/m·K. However, it is an organic polymer that is inherently flammable, making it a potential fire hazard during production, storage, and use. Some manufacturers ignore safety standards, using substandard polyurethane foam materials in certain applications. The risks associated with this include:
(1) Rigid polyurethane foam has a porous structure, which makes it prone to heat accumulation. Once ignited, it burns very quickly;
(2) When burned, polyurethane foam often undergoes incomplete combustion, producing thick black smoke and releasing large amounts of toxic gases, including carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, and benzene cyanide, all of which are extremely dangerous;
(3) The heavy smoke generated by burning polyurethane foam significantly hinders firefighters' visibility, making it difficult to locate the fire source and conduct effective search and rescue operations.
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